There is a Better Road to Travel  (Feb.2003)

 As this trap tier allocation system gets discussed and evaluated, more and more complications, inequities and doubts seem to surface.  While it may at first seem simple, as one looks deeper, it’s a nightmare.  One might also question what it really accomplishes besides upsetting many current fishing operations and hurting fishermen’s incomes.  Much of the rationale behind the idea is based on speculation, a desire to have something the “same” in lobsterland and to serve as a substitute for other measures developed by fishermen and passed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

 Remember the “best scientific information available” wording that has constantly been pushed in our face as being what managers must consider?  Well in this case, that information doesn’t indicate that the overall trap numbers in the state are out of control.  The hype to have this plan is more speculating on a potential.  Area plans were developed based on different levels of a stocks condition and there are three different lobster stock areas.  Things weren’t the “same” in all those areas and based on that, the various lobster area plans couldn’t be the same either.  The approved provisions were designed by fishermen working with biologists and managers and were deemed to have a benefit for the resource.  The trap cap plan as currently proposed, however, really doesn’t accomplish the same benefit for the resource.  It is therefore not a very good substitute.

 The state’s trap plan on the other hand, will hurt more fishermen then the ASMFC’s approved plan would ever do.  The trap plan would be very good at creating acrimony between the industry and state managers.  It would be a good way to create animosity between fishermen.  It would do a good job at fostering non-compliance and making law enforcement work much harder as that money-strapped agency tries to find all those who might be tempted to sneak a few more traps out into the deep blue sea in order to keep their businesses afloat.  As the system would develop, we could have hundreds of different individual trap limits; find me if you can!?  This isn’t the right road to get bogged down in at this time.  This isn’t the correct vehicle to try and push up this slippery slope.

 This is not to say that there isn’t some way to address the Division’s fears, which although fed by speculation should be addressed by industry in some way.  We do believe that there are some ways to tackle these concerns.

 So how do we all get out of this mess?  We would urge the Division to pull this plan back for now and examine the benefits of pursuing another road.  Try this one!

1.       Adopt the ASMFC area plans at least in some form.  Some “tinkering” with the Area 1 v-notch definition and the Outer Cape Trap Plan would be appropriate and probably passable at the ASMFC level.  Maybe a form of the Division’s trap plan could work for the Outer Cape area where those fishermen did include a trap cap and reducing program in their original plan.  Work with the fishermen in those areas to get those two parts in place.

2.       Allow time for these plans to work.

3.       Meet with the fishermen to monitor the progress of all the plans.  Keep doing it.

4.       Work with the fishermen to design or adjust  some state provisions to address the concerns that are troubling the Division regarding effort.

 Adjustments and additions may be needed to make the plans work better or to address some glitch that surfaces.  There is nothing wrong with finding that all plans don’t work perfectly.  We have never seen a fishery plan that worked perfectly and that never needed some adjustment.  Working with the state’s lobstermen, these bumps in the road can be fixed.  Afterall, the lobstermen are the experts in the fishery and the state is the expert in moving plans through a process and overseeing the program.

 It would be a tragedy to allow the Division’s Trap Cap Plan as proposed to hurt so many fishermen for so little gain.  It would also be a shame to place fishermen against fishermen, to destroy the progress that has been made in cooperative management and it would be tragic to ruin the cooperation that has existed between the Commonwealth’s Marine Fisheries Division and this state’s lobster fishing industry.

 Potholes can ruin your tires and your progress.

 Bill Adler, Executive Director